Board Game Having A Plurality of Side Games

ABSTRACT

A board game utilizing a plurality of side games. The present invention provides a board game over which players may freely traverse between a plurality of regions. Once two or more players simultaneously occupy a region, a side game commences. The winner of the side game is awarded a point and the winner of the board game is the first individual to accumulate a pre-determined number of points. The side games preferably comprise a wide range of types of games, thus making the present board game adaptable to a wide range of individuals&#39; preferences and thereby making it easier for groups of individuals to compromise and play a single game.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/879,958 filed on Sep. 19, 2013. The above identified patentapplication is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety toprovide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to board games. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to board games wherein users advance theirpieces around a game board and participate in a plurality of side gamesin order to score points.

It can often be very difficult for individuals to settle on a singlegame to play because different individuals often prefer different typesof games to play. For example, one individual may want to play a cardgame, whereas another individual may want to play a dice game. It isdifficult to compromise by successively playing a series of differentgames chosen by each individual because doing so can be extremely timeconsuming if compromise would require playing a large number of games.Furthermore, individuals are unlikely to be happy when they are playinga game that they do not really want to and are only doing so to appeaseanother individual in the group. Therefore, there is a need in the priorart for a device that simultaneously combines multiple different gamesto create a diverse game that can appease any individual, regardless ofwhat type of game they want to play.

The present invention provides a board game in which players roll die toadvance their pieces around the game board, triggering a diverse varietyof side games in which players compete to earn points. The player thataccumulates the most points by winning the most side games is declaredthe winner. The game preferably comprises four separate side games andthe side games are preferably chosen to provide the users with a diverserange of types of games to accommodate as many users with differentpreferences as possible. For example, the side games may compriseHi-Lo-Half, which is a dice-based game, Diamonds, which is a card game,Whirlpool, which is a maze board game, and Wrong Pong, which is aball-and-cup game. However, no claim is made as to the precise number oridentity of the side games included in the present board game. Playersmay freely move their game pieces around the game board and challengeother players to side games based upon which games they find mostenjoyable.

1. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to board games.These include devices that have been patented and published in patentapplication publications. These devices generally relate to board gamesthat have various different types of side games or sub-games. Thefollowing is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the presentdisclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlightingand differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, andfurther highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

One such device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,160 to Stevens et al., whichdiscloses a Bible-themed board game that tests the users' knowledge,artistic, and theatrical talents. Users roll die to advance their piecesaround the game board, which has an intertwined pathway. Depending onwhich space a player lands upon that turn, the player must either answera question, draw something, or act out a given word. The presentinvention also tests multiple different skills, but it does so byincluding various types of die-based games, card games, ball-and-cupgames, and other such games based primarily on chance. The presentinvention does not test skills associated with knowledge of trivia orthe ability to perform various scenes.

Another such device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,371 to Peterson, whichdiscloses a board game that tests users' knowledge of various topics,including math, history, and science. Players advance around auni-directional game board answering questions randomly chosen from thetopic determined by the space on which the user's piece lands. Playersgain points for correct answers to these questions and the winner of thegame is the first player to reach the end with the highest number ofpoints. Peterson only tests a single skill: users' ability to recallinformation. The present invention, on the other hand, comprises a boardgame that utilizes a plurality of sub-games with their own sets of rulesand strategies. Furthermore, the present invention utilizes amulti-direction game board that allows players to freely traverse towhichever area of the game board that they would like.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,909 to Alexander, II, et al. discloses a board gamethat requires players to perform activities, such as acting, answeringquestions, or drawing, in order to advance around the game board. Aswith Stevens, the present board game utilizes a series of games that areeither chance-based, such as Diamonds, or are dexterity-based, such asWrong Pong. The present invention does not generally test the users'ability to act, draw, recall information. Furthermore, the presentinvention allows individuals to choose which games that they want toparticipate in because they are free to move around the game board toareas designated for each sub-game.

Such devices further include U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,279 to Scott and U.S.Pat. No. 7,040,624, which disclose multi-level game boards. The presentinvention preferably includes two separate player paths as well, howeverthe two player paths comprise a main path that is the means by whichusers move their pieces around to trigger the various sub-games and asecondary path that is used for the maze sub-game. The secondary mazeplayer path is not traversed by the players' primary pieces.

A board game having multiple sub-games is provided. The presentinvention comprises a multi-directional game board over which users arefree to move their pieces as determined by their own discretion. Variousregions on the game board are associated with different sub-games. Onceat least two players' pieces occupy a given region, a round of theassociated game is automatically commenced and the winner of the game isawarded a single point. Users are free to move around the game board andplay whichever game that they wish. The present invention thereby offersa compromise to groups of individuals that are unable to settle on asingle game to play because the present invention combines all of theseindividual games within a single framework. A variety of differentsub-games may be included in the present invention, including hi-lohalf, which is a dice-based game, diamonds, which is a card game,Whirlpool, which is a maze board game, and Wrong Pong, which is adexterity-based game. However, there is no restriction on the number ortypes of sub-games utilized by various embodiments of the presentinvention. It substantially diverges in design elements from the priorart and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for animprovement to existing board game devices. In this regard the instantinvention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofboard games now present in the prior art, the present invention providesa new board game that utilizes a plurality of different types of sidegames wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience forgroups of users that are otherwise unable to comprise on a single gameto play because the individuals want to play different types of gamesthat are generally incompatible.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved board game device that has all of the advantages of the priorart and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a board gamethat comprises a plurality of side games.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a board game thatis adaptable to groups of individuals that are unable to compromise on asingle type of game because they having diverging preferences.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a board game thatthat has a dice-based side game.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a board game thathas a card-based side game.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a board gamethat has a dexterity-based side game.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a boardgame in which users are free to choose which side games that want and donot want to participate in.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannerin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the method of playing the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the present board game. For the purposes of presenting abrief and clear description of the present invention, the preferredembodiment will be discussed as used by groups of individuals generallyhaving divergent preferences that are otherwise unable to compromise ona single game to play. The figures are intended for representativepurposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in anyrespect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of thepresent invention. The present invention comprises a game board 11having a main surface 33 that is broken into a series of spaces 31 alongwhich users advance their players pieces. The main surface 33 furtherincludes a plurality of side game regions 32, which constitute sets ofspaces 31 that are color-coded or otherwise distinguished from thenormal spaces 31. As depicted, there are four side game regions 32,which each comprise separately designated groupings of spaces 11arranged at the corners of the main surface 33. However, no claim ismade as to the precise number or arrangement of the side game regions32. The number of side game regions 32 corresponds to the number of sidegames utilized by the present board game, wherein each side game region32 preferably corresponds to a single side game, as determined by theplayers.

The present invention further comprises a plurality of player pieces 12,which each serve to represent one of the players, a deck of cards 13, atleast one die 14, and a tally book 15 for keeping score, notes, orpotentially for use in various side games. In an alternative embodimentof the present invention, the game board further comprises a secondarysurface 34 that is usable for one of the side games. The secondarysurface 34 is completely separate from the main surface 33 and playerpieces are not permitted to move between the two surfaces 33, 34. Thesecondary surface 34 is solely intended to serve as a secondary playarea for certain side games that require it, such as word guessinggames, including Taboo or Catch Phrase, or circular maze games, such asWhirlpool.

As depicted, the main surface 33 of the present board game is brokeninto a first pathway 35 and a second pathway 36. The second pathway 36lets users avoid various side game regions 32, and thus avoidparticipating in the side games associated with those side game regions32, as they traverse around the game board. In alternative embodimentsof the present invention, the main surface 33 may include additionalpathways arranged in different ways to provide players with differentroutes to traverse between the various side game regions 32. The presentinvention therefore lets individuals customize their experience playingthe game because if they do not enjoy playing certain side games, thenthey are not required to take part in them. Because of this, the presentinvention serves as a perfect compromise between individuals of diversegame preferences because all of the various types of games can bebrought within a single framework, using a single game board.

The side games comprise any type of game desired by the user, includingcard games, such as diamonds, war, poker, crazy eights, and the like;dice games, such as hi-lo half, liar's dice, and the like; games thatrequire the use of an extra board, such as Whirlpool, Taboo, CatchPhrase, and the like; and any other game that users may wish to play,such as Wrong Pong, a game that involves bouncing a ball into a cupunder different types of challenging circumstances. The present boardgame comprises dice, a deck of cards, and other objects that can be usedto play different types of games; however, the players are not limitedin their choices of which side games to play. The only restriction isthat the players must choose which side games they would like to playprior to the start of the game and then assign each of the chosen sidegames to one of the side game regions 32.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a flowchart of the method ofplaying the present invention. Prior to the game beginning, the playersmust decide upon a number of side games to play equal to the number ofside game regions disposed on the game board. These games may make useof the various accessories provided with the present invention, or theside games may be completely unrelated. In either case, each side gameregion must be assigned a game prior to the commencement of play. Onceplay commences, each new turn 51 begins with a player rolling a die 52or a plurality of dice to advance 53 his or her piece around the gameboard a number of spaces equal to the number rolled 52 on the die. Inone embodiment of the rule set of the present invention, the players areonly permitted to advance their pieces in a single direction around thegame board, i.e. either clockwise or counter-clockwise. In anotherembodiment of the rule set, players may freely advance their piecesaround the game board in any direction that they desire.

The next actions depend on whether the player lands in a side gameregion or not 54. If the final space that a player's piece lands on isnot in a side game region, then it is the next player's turn. If thefinal space that a player's piece lands on is in a side game region, butthe same side game region is not occupied by another player's piece 54,then it is the next player's turn. If the final space that a player'spiece lands on is in a side game region and the same side game region isoccupied by at least one other player 55, then all of the players inthat side game region play the side game that is assigned to that region56. The winner of that game then gains one or more points 57, dependingupon the rules that the players have pre-agreed to. If any player'saccumulated points exceeds a threshold agreed to prior to the start ofplay, then that players wins 59.

The present board game provides individuals with a game that settlesdisputes between groups of individuals that cannot choose what singlegame they would like to play. Individuals can play whatever game orgames that they wish to play and avoid those that they do not wish toplay. Furthermore, these various games are brought together within asingle, overarching framework that rewards individuals who win the sidegames so that an overall winner can ultimately be determined.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown anddescribed in what is considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be madewithin the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications willoccur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the abovedescription then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assemblyand use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim: 1) A board game, comprising: a game board comprising aplurality of spaces forming at least a first pathway, a second pathway,and a plurality of side game regions; at least one die; a plurality ofplayer pieces; at least one deck of cards. 2) The board game of claim 1,further comprising: a secondary surface comprising a plurality ofspaces; wherein said plurality of spaces forming at least said firstpathway, said second pathway, and said plurality of side game regionsform a main surface; wherein said secondary surface is disconnected fromsaid main surface. 3) The board game of claim 1, wherein: said firstpathway forms an inner pathway over which a player may advance withoutcrossing a side game region; said second pathway forms an outer pathway.4) The board game of claim 2, wherein: said first pathway forms an innerpathway over which a player may advance without crossing a side gameregion; said second pathway forms an outer pathway. 5) The board game ofclaim 1, wherein: said side game region spaces are differentiated fromsaid first pathway spaces and said second pathway spaces via indicia. 6)A method of playing a board game, comprising the steps of: assigning aside game to each of a plurality of side game regions; initiating a turnfor a player; rolling a die; advancing a player piece a number of spacesequal to the number rolled by said die; if said player piece lands on anon-side game region space, ending said player's turn; if said playerpiece lands on one of said game regions and said game region isunoccupied by another player piece, ending said player's turn; if saidplayer piece lands on one of said side game regions and said side gameregion is occupied by at least one other player piece, initiating a sidegame assigned to said side game region occupied by said player pieces,tallying one or more points to a winner of said side game, and endingsaid player's turn; if said winner's accumulated point total exceeds athreshold, ending the game; if said winner accumulated point total isbelow said threshold, a next player taking a turn.